As we age, there are normal physiologic changes that happen to our body. Each of us ages slightly differently due to everything from genetics to lifestyle choices. I often have patients that feel like they have been given a diagnosis of disease when really they are experiencing some degree of the normal aging process. Some changes in our bodies are obvious, as we can see in the mirror. Aging changes can contribute to wrinkles in our skin as well as thinning, greying, or balding of our hair. We may also start to see “age spots” on our skin. Our posture may stoop, our feet may flatten, and our height will likely decrease.

Other age related changes are not as obvious because we can’t see them without some form of diagnostic imaging such as x-ray or MRI. These changes most commonly are